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New Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgement screenies look cutesy photo

If you ever played any of the Vandal Hearts games, you likely have the same fond memories I do of this tactical RPG series that more often than not fell under people's radar. I wasn't even aware that a new prequel was coming to the PSN and Live Arcade until recently, and now that I've seen these new screens I have to admit that my interest is piqued .... but is it just me, or does the art style have that "made for kids" kind of feel to it?

Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgement is a prequel to the series and will put you in the shoes of Tobias Martin, a young man caught between two kingdoms about to go to war. It will be out this September -- no price point has been announced yet. I'm not one hundred percent convinced I'll buy it based on these screens, but I'm thinking about it. What say you?


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29 comments | showing # 1 to 29

Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 06/30/2009 18:42
Its creepy lookin. I don't think I'm interested in this at all.
Shadowiii's Avatar
Shadowiii at 06/30/2009 18:43
Barf. Way to ruin the dark, realistic art style of the first two games.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar
EternalDeathSlayer at 06/30/2009 18:44
"a young man caught between two kingdoms about to go to war"

The originality of it all is just killing me.

Killing me.
Analoge's Avatar
Analoge at 06/30/2009 18:46
Hello, uncanny valley.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar
EternalDeathSlayer at 06/30/2009 18:48
Still, it looks fun. I've never played it, but the gameplay looks like an FF Tactics sort of game, so I'll keep my eyes on this one.

If it's 10 bucks I'll but it. Dunno about anything higher than that.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar
Justin Villasenor at 06/30/2009 18:51
Those faces just don't look right.
ParaParaKing's Avatar
ParaParaKing at 06/30/2009 18:58
Hopefully it is more like the first and less like the second one.

I'm really looking forward to this, because I loved the first game in the series years ago.
Primo's Avatar
Primo at 06/30/2009 19:04
they look kinda like those little Homies toys.
Y0j1mb0's Avatar
Y0j1mb0 at 06/30/2009 19:05
Looks like a flash game.
Calamansi's Avatar
Calamansi at 06/30/2009 19:16
Get Zwinky!
ChronosWing's Avatar
ChronosWing at 06/30/2009 19:21
What the fuck have you done Konami... wtf... I can not express any emotion but confusion and disappointment at these screens.
Elsa's Avatar
Elsa at 06/30/2009 19:27
it's got kind of a "bobble head" thing going on... though that might be the art style and direction they've chosen...
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 06/30/2009 19:30
i thought ps1 game development was over. i am interested if the can just look a bit better.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 06/30/2009 19:31
Yay bizarre Western made psuedo anime people.
Genius's Avatar
Genius at 06/30/2009 19:40
Looks like they are faithful to what I hated about the first VH game, the terrible art. The character and sprite designs in the first game made me sick and this new helping of bad art isnt making me remotely want to try this game.
ikiryou's Avatar
ikiryou at 06/30/2009 19:54
Art direction or not, those ginormous skulls freak the hell out of me o_0
Takeshi's Avatar
Takeshi at 06/30/2009 20:16
We'll see, I can't say it really like it, nor hate it.
Ganjookie's Avatar
Ganjookie at 06/30/2009 20:41
Hopefully a paper bag option will be available to cover those faces.
HiddenAHB's Avatar
HiddenAHB at 06/30/2009 21:03
Oh my fuckin god, i thought i was the only person in the world that knew that Vandal Hearts even existed. VH II was just awesome.
I will have to buy this.

PS: People, the characters won't look like these ¬¬
Los255's Avatar
Los255 at 06/30/2009 22:17
"Big Head mode" don't always make games cute.
NukaCola's Avatar
NukaCola at 06/30/2009 22:50
Vandal Hearts II is my favorite turn-based strategy RPG of all time, and it's medieval soundtrack was one of the best. Shame on Konami for outsourcing this series to another developer to give us...this...
Trevor McGee's Avatar
Trevor McGee at 06/30/2009 23:08
The visuals are just awful compared to the first two. I'd take the pixelated sprites of old over these anyway.
Chocobo Knight's Avatar
Chocobo Knight at 06/30/2009 23:16
I'm really not digging this art design. The super-deformed aspect works against the gravity of the source material. If it was an original IP, I would be more forgiving, but this is Vandal Hearts.

It'd have to be one impressive demo to win me over. You know, I've learned not to bend the knee to nostalgia these days. Otherwise, I get kicked in the ass.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 06/30/2009 23:46
Why are the heads so fucking huge? Dial it back a bit please. Funny people is a grimdark world? Not compatible.
KyleGamgee's Avatar
KyleGamgee at 07/01/2009 02:46
I really like this type of gameplay, and it's very rare. I know I will buy this on XBLA.
Tye The Czar's Avatar
Tye The Czar at 07/01/2009 08:46
Someone needs to do what Duke Nukem would to the Art Director. This is a travesty.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 07/01/2009 10:56
If the gameplay is intact, I don't care about the cutesy character design. I'm actually surprised that you are, Colette. Or are you worried that the made-for-kids look will translate to scaled back, made-for-kids gameplay as well?
the GAMEGOBLIN's Avatar
the GAMEGOBLIN at 07/01/2009 14:00
The only thing I care about is if when someone is killed litres of blood will spew out like the first one

If it doesn't then VH is dead to me.
Solgrim's Avatar
Solgrim at 07/01/2009 18:10
ew
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